Gift Orban has officially completed a move to Bundesliga club TSG Hoffenheim from Olympique Lyon for a reported €9 million fee, with an additional €3 million in potential add-ons.
The 22-year-old Nigerian striker has penned a contract that will keep him at the German outfit until June 2029. He becomes the third Nigerian to represent Hoffenheim, following in the footsteps of current defender Kevin Akpoguma and former forward Chinedu Obasi, who played for the club from 2007 to 2012.
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Hoffenheim’s Managing Director of Sports, Andreas Schicker, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition, highlighting Orban’s qualities as a dynamic and fast striker.
“In Gift Orban, we have found exactly the fast striker with good depth that we were looking for,” Schicker said on the club’s official website. “Gift has repeatedly proven his goal-scoring ability and his joy of playing at his previous clubs. We are convinced he will add greater variability to our attack with his skills.”
Orban’s time at KAA Gent was remarkable, as the Nigerian forward scored an impressive 32 goals in 52 competitive appearances between January 2023 and January 2024. His performances in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League and UEFA Europa Conference League earned him widespread recognition as one of Europe’s most promising young strikers.
🚨🔵 Official, confirmed. Gift Orban leaves OL and joins Hoffenheim on €9m fee plus €3m add-ons.
Contract valid until June 2029. pic.twitter.com/axsKq9wu9T
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 2, 2025
At Hoffenheim, Orban will wear the number 14 jersey, last donned by Christoph Baumgartner before his departure in 2023.
The striker’s addition provides Hoffenheim with much-needed firepower as they look to bolster their attack and climb away from the relegation zone in the Bundesliga.
